JBS Strike in Northern Colorado Could Hike Beef Prices

Hundreds of workers at the JBS meatpacking facility in Greeley, Colorado are on strike, potentially leading to higher beef prices at grocery stores.

Mar. 17, 2026 at 1:35am

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Hundreds of workers at the JBS meatpacking facility in Northern Colorado are going on strike, leading industry experts to warn of a possible increase in beef prices in the coming weeks. The strike by the UFCW Local 7 union comes after failed negotiations with JBS, one of the world's largest meat processing companies. Experts say the strike, combined with other factors like rising fuel costs and low cattle numbers, could drive up beef prices by 10-20 cents per pound locally.

Why it matters

The JBS strike in Greeley, Colorado could have ripple effects across the beef supply chain, impacting local ranchers, feedlots, and ultimately consumers at the grocery store. With beef prices already under pressure from broader economic factors, this labor dispute has the potential to further drive up costs for shoppers.

The details

Workers with the UFCW Local 7 union began picketing outside the Greeley JBS facility on Monday after failing to reach a new labor agreement with the company. JBS, which has its U.S. headquarters in Greeley, is one of the largest meat processing companies in the world. Industry experts warn the strike could lead to a 10-20 cent per pound increase in beef prices locally, on top of other inflationary pressures like rising fuel costs and a decades-low cattle herd size in the U.S.

  • The JBS worker strike in Greeley, Colorado began on Monday, March 17, 2026.

The players

JBS

One of the biggest meat processing companies in the world, with its United States headquarters located in Greeley, Colorado.

UFCW Local 7

The union representing workers at the JBS meatpacking facility in Greeley, who went on strike after failing to reach a new labor agreement with the company.

Jennifer Martin

An associate professor at Colorado State University, one of the top agriculture schools in the nation, who provided expert analysis on the potential impact of the JBS strike on beef prices.

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What they’re saying

“Anytime there is a disruption in the supply chain, whether it is due to a strike at a packing plant, transportation issues or weather, there are risks of price impacts.”

— Jennifer Martin, Associate Professor, Colorado State University (CBS Colorado)

“I would say in the 10 to 20 cent range is pretty reasonable.”

— Jennifer Martin, Associate Professor, Colorado State University (CBS Colorado)

“We are at the lowest number of cattle in the U.S. in the past several decades. We have oil prices that are increasing, lots of other things outside the strike that are impacting the beef supply chain. While we might see slight upticks in price, it is hard to pinpoint how much of that uptick is because of the strike versus the external events that are happening in the supply chain itself.”

— Jennifer Martin, Associate Professor, Colorado State University (CBS Colorado)

What’s next

The JBS strike is ongoing, and it remains to be seen how long the labor dispute will last. Industry experts will continue to monitor the situation and its potential impact on beef prices in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The JBS worker strike in Greeley, Colorado is the latest challenge facing the beef supply chain, which is already grappling with factors like rising fuel costs and a shrinking cattle herd. While the strike may lead to a modest increase in beef prices locally, the broader inflationary pressures on the industry mean consumers should expect to pay more for their steaks and burgers in the months ahead.